The first train for the A$8.3bn ($6.5bn) Sydney Metro Northwest project in Australia has arrived at the Rouse Hill facility from India.

The new six-carriage train will be prepared for testing over the coming months, and metro services are expected to commence from 2019.

Sydney Metro Northwest is a 36km project that comprises the first stage of the Sydney Metro development, which will see the introduction of the country's first fully automated metro rail system.

Services are also slated to be extended to Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) by 2024.

Sydney Metro is expected operate a train every two minutes in each direction once the network is fully operational.

The Sydney Metro Northwest project will run from Rouse Hill to Chatswood and includes the construction of eight new metro stations, the modernisation of five existing stations and the conversion of the Epping and Chatswood rail line, reported smh.com.au.

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The project's second stage will see the line extended to CBD, Sydenham and Bankstown, which will require an investment of around A$12.5bn ($9.82bn).

"The new six-carriage train will be prepared for testing over the coming months, and metro services are expected to commence from 2019."

Sydney Metro also recently ordered five huge tunnel boring machines (TBM) to build new twin railway tunnels underneath Sydney Harbour.

The order forms part of the A$2.81bn ($2.21bn) tunnelling contract that was initially awarded to the John Holland CPB Ghella joint venture in June.

Two TBMs will be used to dig 6.2km from Chatswood to the edge of Sydney Harbour under the initiative, while two will travel 8.1km from Marrickville to Barangaroo.

A specialised TBM will then be used to build the twin tunnels.


Image: Sydney's new metro train arrival. Photo: courtesy of Sydney Metro.

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